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NORKS no longer leading missle peddlers to ME
From East-Asia-Intel.com, subscription, reqâd...North Korea is losing its standing as the leading ballistic missile supplier to the Middle East. Kimmie is losing market share, better reassess. U.S. intelligence analysts said North Korea has failed to maintain the pace of its missile development program over the past two years. The analysts cited a number of reasons, including an international embargo that has prevented North Korea from obtaining vital components as well as technical failures. Starting to feel the squeeze means that the alliesâ working together is starting to bear fruit. The result, the analysts said, is that several of the Northâs Middle East clients appear to be looking to other countries to supply their technology and missile components, according to a report by Middle East Newsline. The countries include Iran and Syria, which have been moving toward such suppliers as China and Pakistan. Our friends, the Chicoms and the Paks. No honor among criminals. On March 9, Pakistan reported the successful test of the Shaheen-2 missile. The Shaheen-2 is described as an intermediate-range missile having a range of 2,000 kilometers. It is capable of carrying a nuclear warhead. Pakistan is believed to have offered its Ghauri intermediate-range missile, with a range of 1,500 kilometers, to Middle East allies. Pakistan is busy working on its Death Wishâ¢, too. North Koreaâs role as a missile developer was discussed at a recent seminar on proliferation in Washington, DC sponsored by the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars and the Reves Center for International Studies of the College of William and Mary. A leading U.S. government analyst reported a major accident during a North Korean missile launch in 2002 set back Pyongyangâs intermediate-range missile program. Stephen Kim, an analyst who focuses on North Koreaâs nuclear program at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, said that in March 2002, North Koreaâs missile program might have been severely damaged by an explosion at the launch site. Kim, quoting South Korean government sources, said the accident could hamper Pyongyangâs plans to sell missiles to its traditional clients. Quality control problem affects sales. South Korean "Defense Ministry officials have estimated that North Korea would have difficulty launching another missile for at least a year," Kim said. "Still, North Korea has exhibited proficiency in the design and production of effective multi-stage ballistic missiles; accuracy improvements and other steps forward are anticipated. Sale or North Korean threats of a sale will dramatically increase." Threats of an attack on North Korean facilities will also increase. North Korea reportedly sold $580 million worth of ballistic missiles to Middle Eastern states in 2001. That figure dropped to about $500 million or less in 2002 and 2003. Over the last year, North Korea has sought to sell missiles to African states such as Nigeria. The NORKS must be getting despirate for markets. It is, after all, even in terror-related goods, a global economy. Analysts at the conference did not rule out that North Korea could focus on exporting nuclear weapons components and technology to Middle East states. They cited CIA sources as saying that North Korea has possessed nuclear weapons for a decade and has been debating the feasibility of nuclear exports. Iâm sure that Kimmie is mulling that one over carfully before he acts. Probably talked to Mo already....or not. Posted by: Alaska Paul 2004-03-16 |
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